PRINCETON - The region's heavy dependence on fossil fuels and
their high cost has led to the development of a cooperative created to
assist municipal power companies in developing and financing wind
projects.

The Massachusetts Municipal Light Department Wind Energy
Cooperative has been established through a joint effort by the
Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. and the Princeton
Municipal Light Department to finance and construct a wind farm on Mount
Wachusett.

Jonathan V. Fitch, manager of PMLD, said the cooperative will
enable the light department to borrow funds for the wind project without
affecting the town's budget, tax rate or borrowing capacity.

"The cooperative can borrow on its own," Mr. Fitch said.
"There's more flexibility this way."

Mr. Fitch said the formation of the cooperative is a logical next
step for the

The cooperative is currently limited to the Princeton wind project,
although the incorporation papers permit other wind projects to join.

"We're getting started with Princeton," said David
Tuohey, communications manager for the MMWEC. "We hope to bring
other municipal utilities' wind projects through the cooperative.
It's a vehicle for them to diversify their power supply."

Mr. Tuohey added that while there are currently no other members of
the cooperative, the town of Templeton is in the process of establishing
a project adjacent to Narragansett Regional High School.

Mr. Fitch said the cooperative agreement stipulates that each
municipal light department is only permitted to vote on its own
projects.

"If other munis (municipal light departments) use this tool,
it will become a more streamlined process, and we all get the benefit of
learning from each other," Mr. Fitch said.

Mr. Fitch said that he has made the initial payment for the
turbines, and that the co-operative is in the process of finalizing the
balance of the financing.

Ground was broken for Princeton's $6.5 million wind farm Aug.
24. Two 1.5 megawatt turbines are on order, with an expected delivery
date of next summer.

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